Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

November 1
Saturday


"GIMME IT"

READ:
James 3:13-18
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My thoughts are not
your thoughts, nor are
your ways My ways.
__Isaiah 55:8
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I heard the screams long before I could see him, but as I wheeled my grocery cart around to the next aisle of the store, there he was!

With angry tears streaming out of squinty eyes, the little boy was shouting, "Gimme it!" His mom glanced at me for a moment. I won't debate the merits of her actions, but, embarrassed and worn down, she grabbed the cheap trinket and tossed it into her cart.

I think I recognized that kid. he looked a lot like me. Yes, I've often been the willful child. And sometimes I've even pleaded with God, "Why not? Why can't I have it?" On occasion, God's given me what I wanted, but not because I wore Him down. No, I think He wanted me to see what happens when I put myself in charge.

What we think is best is not necessarily the best that God desires for us. In Isaiah 55:8, the Lord said, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways."

In his book Days of Grace, tennis champion Arthur Ashe paraphrased James 1:5 when he wrote this advice to his young daughter: "Ask God for the wisdom to know what is right, what God wants done, and the will to do it."

That's just the kind of sincere prayer that God wants to hear from His children. __Cindy Hess Kasper
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``````````````We can't presume to know what's best```````````````
`````````````````````When we begin to pray`````````````````````
```````````````So we must ask, "What honors God?"```````````````
```````````````Then seek His will and way. __Sper````````````````
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If God doesn't give us what we ask for,
we can be sure that He has something far better.

****************Today's Bible Reading __ James 3:13-18***********

13 Who is wise and
understanding among you?
Let him show by good
conduct that his works are
done in the meekness of
wisdom. 14 But if you have
bitter envy and self-seeking
in your hearts, do not boast
and lie against the truth.

15 This wisdom does not
descend from above, but is
earthly, sensual, demonic.

16 For where envy and self-
seeking exist, confusion and
every evil thing are there.

17 But the wisdom that is
from above is first pure,
then peaceable, gentle,
willing to yield, full of
mercy and good fruits,
without partiality and
without hypocrisy. 18 Now
the fruit of righteousness is
sown in peace by those who
make peace.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The book of James has been called "the proverbs of the New
Testament" because of its emphasis on practical wisdom. In today's
Bible reading, the writer contrasts the characteristics of earthly
wisdom with those of heavenly wisdom. This contrast is seen in three
ways. First is the contrast of the attitude of wisdom ("meekness"
versus "envy and self-seeking"). Second is the source of the wisdom
("earthly, sensual, demonic" versus "from above"). Third is the
product of that wisdom, in which James shows clearly that heavenly
wisdom produces that which is pure and full of peace while earthly
wisdom results in "confusion and every evil thing." __Bill Crowder